plate no. 0218

Self-portrait

oilRomanticismself-portraitportraitmanbeardglassesclothingself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, using subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Paint the beard and hair, paying attention to the direction of the strands and the way they catch the light.
step 05
Define the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add the clothing, using darker values to create contrast with the face.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the subject without distracting from it.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones by blending white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of yellow ochre and cadmium red. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark background and clothing.

techniques